Structural blocks



I June 30, 1959 L. M. FORT 9 STRUCTURAL BLOCKS Filed July 5, 1955 3 sheets sheet 1 L. M. FORT STRUCTURAL BLOCKS June 30, 1959 Filed July 5, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. 4/2 7% 522$ June 30, 1959 T STRUCTURAL BLOCKS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. /3

Filed July 5, 1955 F l6. l4

KW GM Unit Stat s Pate Qi v2,892,340 STRUCTURAL BLOCKS Leas M. Fort, Harborcreek Township, Erie County, Pa.

Application July 5,1955, Serial N 519,858 9 Claims. (Cl. 72-41) The blocks have a reinforced body structure adapting H them for use with prestressing rods.

This application constitutes an improvement of Patent No. 2,653,450, issued September 29, 1953. In the said patent, blocks are disclosed which can be used to build straight walls and curved walls but with 1 which it is impossibleto make right angle turns and to interlock the walls. i It is, accordingly, an object of this invention to overcome the defects in prior constructions of retaining walls and to improve my novel prefabricating members and,

more particularly, an object of this invention is to provide a retaining wall structure which is simple in construction, economical incost, economical-in manufacture, and simple and efiicient touse,

Another object of the invention is to provide a retaining wall which can be built up with unskilled labor and can be used to build a variety of shapes of walls.

.5 9 further object'of this invention. is to provide an improved"block'sti'uctiife'fof iis'e in' walls and other structures.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of interlocked, fully curved precast cylindrical blocks which are adapted to form cylindrical retaining walls, coffer dams, silos, and similar structures, and to provide in such blocks a reinforced core adapting them for prestressed use.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and minor details of construction without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a view of a block member according to the invention, the block member having symmetrical sides; Fig. 2 is a front view of the block member shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the blocks shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 shows a section of a wall built up from the block member shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3;

Fig. 5 is a side view of a block useful for turning corners to form curved walls and the like;

Fig. 6 is a half block similar to the block shown'in Fig. 5;

Figs. 7 and 8 are views of other embodiments of the invention;

Figs. 9 and 10 show the embodiment of the block in Fig. 7 in a wall with blocks;

Patented June 30, 1959 p l CC I Figs. 11 and 12 show the blockin Fig. 8 inc. wall with blocks;

Figs. 13 and 14 show other embodiments of, the invention; and I V H Fig. 15 shows several kinds ofblocks laid up intoa composite wall.

Now with more specific reference to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows block 1 generally cylindrical in shape and having slots 2 formed in the end thereof. The slots 2 have long outwardly extending key portions 3 and short key portions 4 extending from eachend .thereof. The ends of the block 1 each have a concentric counterbore so that the central portion of the block 1 is thicker and defines a shoulder at 6 on the inside thereof. The shoulder 6 serves two purposes. First, when the blocks 1 are formed in a wall and a reinforcing rod or prestressing rod is extended through bores 7, the additional thickness of the shoulder member 6 increases the total compressive force which the wall willwithstand. Secondly, the shoulder member 6 formsa seat for vthe end 8 of the short key members 4 to rest upon, thereby forming a more solid and rigid wall.

Figs. 5 and 6 show blocks 101 which are similar to the blocks 1 shownin Figs. 1, 2, and 3 and are usable with the said blocks; however, the proportion of the circumference over which the key members 3 and 4 extend is varied in the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 6 whereby a curved wall can be made. The blocks 101 have long key members 102 which take up a greater portion of the circumference; thatis, key member 102 is about twice the length of key member 104 and, also, the key member 104 has a length equal to the distance from the bottom surface of grooves 107 to the top edge of shoulder 106. Thus, when the blocks 101 are assembled in a wall, the ends 105 rest onshoulder 106.

In the embodiment of theinvention shown. in Fig. '7, a block 201 is shown wherein long key members 202 extend around'one-half the circumference of the block 201. The long keys 202 are equal'inlength to onehalf the average length oftheblock 201 and two short. .key members 204 are disposed adjacent each other with notches 203 therebetween. The block 201, like the one previously described, has a counterbore at each end defining a shoulder 206 intermediate its length and may be used where a curved wall is placed as shown in Fig. 9.

In all embodiments, the long key members are approximately equal to twice the length of the short key members and the short key members are equal to the distance from the bottom of the grooves to the shoulder. The long key members are approximately twice the distance between the bottom of the grooves on opposite ends of the block. Therefore, when the blocks are set up in a wall, the ends of the long key members will rest on each other outside the neighboring blocks and the ends of the short key members will rest on the reinforcing shoulder inside the rotating block.

In Fig. 8, a block 301 is shown wherein a wide long key 302 is disposed between notches 304 and short key members 305a are disposed on opposite sides of the notches 304 and adjacent notches 305. Long key 307 is approximately one-half the width of key 302.

Fig. 13 shows a block 401 having four equally spaced short keys 402. The notches between the keys 402 are wide enough to receive two wall thicknesses of similar blocks so that blocks can emanate from the block 401 shown in Fig. 13 in four directions. The blocks 401 are counterbored and their key members 402 interfit in the same manner as those aforesaid.

Fig. 14 shows a block 501 wherein one long key 506 and three short keys are approximately equally spaced and have notches 503 therebetween approximately twice the width of notches 505 between the long key 506 and short keys adjacent thereto. These keys interfit in the same manner as the keys of the blocks described supra.

The wall in Fig. 15 could be connected together laterally by means of cable 220 and vertically by means of cable 280 attached to rod 270 which will be supportedin notches 271.

Fig. 15 shows an example type of wall which can be built with the blocks disclosed herein. The "block shown in Fig. 3 is adapted to be used 'to build circular Walls or appendages to the wall shown. The prestressing cable 220 is shown extending "through the cable holes and holding the blocks together and "the entire wall in .prestressed relation.

The cylindrical block-as used herein contemplates also non-circular shapes, for example, squares, hexagon and octagon cross sectional bodies, and others.

The foregoing specification 'sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but the structure shown "is capable of modification "within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which "is to be understoodis broadly novel as is comnrrensuratewith the appended claims.

Theembodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. Construction blocks comprising elongated hollow members having notches formed in the end thereof with long key members and short key members disposed between said notches, and a counterbore in one end terminating in a reinforcing'shoulder formed on the inside of said block members, said block members being adapted to interfit in end to end relation whereby said short key members extend downwardly and rest upon said shoulder of the interfitting block member.

2. A wall made of blocks, each said block comprising a cylindrical member having a counterbored end, said counterbore terminating in an outwardly facing shoulder, spaced notches formed in the walls of each said block, said notches defining spaced long key members andshort key members, said key members comprising the walls of said blocks outwardly of said shoulder, said long key members being substantially twice the length of said short key members, said key members terminating at the outer ends thereof in fiat end surfaces, said short key members being disposed inside other said blocks with the ends of said short key members resting on a said shoulder of another said block, said long key members being disposed outside other said blocks with the ends thereof engaging said flat end surfaces of other said blocks.

3. The wall recited in claim 2 wherein transverse bores are formed in said blocks and prestressing rods extend through said bores whereby said blocks are attached together and prestressed laterally.

4. The wall recited in claim 2 wherein said long key members have a length substantially twice the distance from the .bottom of said notches to said shoulder.

5. The wall recited in claim 4 wherein said cylindrical member has notches formed in each end thereof, said long key members .are approximately twice as long as said short key members and are approximately equal in length to one-half the distance between notches on opposite ends of said blocks whereby when similar blocks are interfitted into notches in opposite ends of said blocks, the ends of said long key members engage each other.

6. The wall recited in claim 5 wherein said short key members extending into the bores of other blocks are adapted to rest on an end of said block and a single long key member.

7. The wall recited in claim 6 wherein a plurality of said short key members are disposed on an end of said block and a single long key member.

8. The wall recited in claim 7 wherein said single long key member extends around substantially one hundred eighty degrees of the periphery of said block.

9. The wall recited in claim 5 wherein said blocks are interconnected to form a wall having four parts, one at right angles to each other in the form of across.

References Cited .in the file of this patent .UNITED STAT-ES PATENTS Austria Mar. 25, 1950 

